Dozens of children and young adults with disabilities will get to experience the joys of fishing as a result of a poker fundraiser that drew about 200 supporters to the Dana Point Yacht Club on April 29.

About 130 of the attendees at the Texas Holdem Fundraiser for Fish for Life were poker players, sitting across the table from poker-playing former Major League Baseball and National Football League players who also were there for the cause.

Former Angels player Chuck Finley greets the beneficiaries of Fish for Life during the charity’s Texas Holdem fundraiser at the Dana Point Yacht Club on Saturday, April 29. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Fish for Life founder Jim Holden and beneficiary Chad Dominguez of Huntington Beach share a laugh during the charity’s Texas Holdem fundraiser at the Dana Point Yacht Club on Saturday, April 29. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

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Fish for Life beneficiary Gabe Richardson, left, and former NFL quarterback Steve Beuerlein greet each other during the charity’s Texas Holdem fundraiser at the Dana Point Yacht Club on Saturday, April 29 in Dana Point.(Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Fish for Life beneficiary Connor Garrett walks the red carpet during the charity’s Texas Holdem fundraiser at the Dana Point Yacht Club on Saturday, April 29. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Former NFL player Brad Budde, left, plays a hand during the Fish for Life Texas Holdem fundraiser at the Dana Point Yacht Club on Saturday, April 29. Fish for Life is a nonprofit that gives special needs individuals a chance to experience the sea through half-day fishing trips. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Former MLB and Angels player Chuck Finley left, and Fish for Life beneficiary Gabe Richardson center, share a laugh with former NFL player Steve Beuerlein during the Fish for Life Texas Holdem fundraiser at the Dana Point Yacht Club on Saturday, April 29. Richardson had just admitted that despite being the biggest Angels fan in the world he still roots for the Yankees when they are in town. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Elizabeth Strother kisses Fish for Life beneficiary Olivia Wingard of San Clemente on the hand during the charity’s Texas Holdem fundraiser at the Dana Point Yacht Club on Saturday, April 29. Fish for Life is a nonprofit that gives special needs individuals a chance to experience the sea through half-day fishing trips during which Strother in the persona of Elseanna Mermaid surprises those on the ship by popping out of the water.(Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Fish for Life founder Jim Holden speaks during the charity’s Texas Holdem fundraiser at the Dana Point Yacht Club on Saturday, April 29. Fish for Life is a nonprofit that gives special needs individuals a chance to experience the sea through half-day fishing trips (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Fish for Life beneficiary Ramon Chomatil walks the red carpet during the charity’s Texas Holdem fundraiser at the Dana Point Yacht Club on Saturday, April 29. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Former MLB and Angels Player Chuck Finley, left, waits for his hand during the Fish for Life Texas Holdem fundraiser at the Dana Point Yacht Club on Saturday, April 29. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Fish for Life beneficiary Ramon Chomatil receives a fishing rod during the charity’s Texas Holdem fundraiser at the Dana Point Yacht Club on Saturday, April 29. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Former NFL player Brad Budde walks the red carpet during the Fish for Life Texas Holdem fundraiser at the Dana Point Yacht Club on Saturday, April 29. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Professional poker player and quadriplegic Garrett Greer and Fish for Life beneficiary Connor Garrett fist bump during the Fish for Life Texas Holdem fundraiser at the Dana Point Yacht Club on Saturday, April 29. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Former NFL player Jim Weatherly, right, lays his hand down during the Fish for Life Texas Holdem fundraiser at the Dana Point Yacht Club on Saturday, April 29. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Jill Frakes of San Clemente celebrates a win during the Fish for Life Texas Holdem fundraiser at the Dana Point Yacht Club on Saturday, April 29. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

Poker Players including World Poker Tour player Garrett Greer play as dusk sets during the Fish for Life Texas Holdem fundraiser at the Dana Point Yacht Club on Saturday, April 29. (Photo by Josh Barber, Contributing Photographer)

San Clemente’s Jim Holden, founder of Fish for Life, estimated that the evening netted about $20,000. “That pays for like four trips,” he said.

The excursions out of Dana Wharf Sportfishing begin with special-needs guests being accorded VIP red-carpet treatment as they step across the dock to board the Dana Pride for a day of expanding horizons and boosted self-confidence. Attendees at the fundraiser got to meet some of the kids.

Fred Swegles grew up in small-town San Clemente before the freeway. He has covered the town since 1970. Today he covers San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. He was in the second graduating class at San Clemente High School, after having spent the first two years of high school in double sessions at historic Capistrano Union High School in San Juan. When the new high school opened, he became first sports editor of the school paper, The Triton. He studied journalism and Spanish at USC on scholarship, graduating with honors. Was sports editor of the Daily Trojan. Surfed on the USC surf team. (High school surfing didn't exist back then.) With the Sun Post, he began covering competitive surfing from the mid-1970s, with the birth of the the modern world tour and the origins of high school surf teams. He got into surf photography and into world travel. Has surfed on six continents (not Antarctica). Has visited 11 San Clementes. Has written photo-illustrated profiles on most of them, with more in the works.